By lida



N. E. CLARK, DECD.

L. F. C. CLARK. EXECUTRIX- EXPANDED METAL MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 12, l9l9.

Patented Dec. 7, 1920.

2 SHE ETSSHEET l.

N. E. CLARK, DECD.

L. F. c. CLARK. EXECUTRIX.

EXPANDED METAL- MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 12, 1919.

1,361,13 Patented Dec. 7,1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ll IIIHH lflll lllll si IHI INVENTOR UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NORRIS ELMORE CLARK, DECEASED, LATE OF PLAINVILLE, CONNECTICUT, BY LIDA F. C. CLARK, EXECUTRIX, ASSIGNOR TO ROBERT S. ALLYN, TRUSTEE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

EXPANDED-IKETAL MACHINE.

Application filed September 12, 1919.

To cZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that Nonnrs ELMoRn CLARK, formerly a citizen of the United States of America, and residing at Plainville, Connecticut, but now deceased, did invent new and useful Improvements in Expanded- Metal Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates particularly to improvements in a machine of the type of Patent #1,22a,877 of May 1st, 1917.

The main object is to enable the machine to operate more smoothly and produce a more uniform product under varying conditions of use to which the machine is subjected. Another object is to enable adjustments to be made to vary the action of the expansion.

It has been found in operation that the slitting of the metal in preparation for the expansion introduces local tension and tendency to distortion which sometimes causes irregularities in the product and trouble in the operation of the expander. To ofiset these diiiiculties I propose to drive the expanding rings or disks so as to provide tension on the alternate interior strips or interribs as the expansion takes place. In addition to this action I propose to transversely crimp the interribs as they enter the machine and before the fabric is expanded so as to counteract any buckling tendency which may have been started by the slitting action. In addition to these features I make the expandin rings larger in diameter than the d'sks which feed the marginal and corresponding interior unslitted strips so that the interribs are caused to pass around curves of larger radii. In addition to this feature I so locate the expanding rings that the full expansion is produced along a line somewhat in advance of the plane through the axes'of the adjacent disks which feed the marginal and other interior unslitted strips so that there is chance for the expanding meshwork to adjust itself, so to speak.

Figure 1, is a side view of the parts of the machine particularly embodying my invention showing one of the housings and in dotted lines indicating the pitch lines of the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. '7, 1920.

Serial No. 323,297.

gears and sprockets for driving the feed disks and the expansion disks or rings.

Fig. 2, is a side view showing the feed disks and expansion rings.

Fig. 3, is a fragmentary view of the feed and expansion disks and the driving gears and sprockets.

Fig. 4, is an enlarged fragmentary detail showing the teeth for crimping the interribs.

The housing in the form shown is in two parts, the main part 6 and the cap 7.

series of spaced feed disks such as 8 and 9, which may be termed main disks, are secured on shaft 10 and cooperate with feed disks 11 and 12 on the shaft 13 and also with other disks 14 and 15 on shaft 16. These disks are all adapted and arranged to engage the marginal and interior unslitted strips of the partially slitted sheet. The marginal disks such as 8, 11 and 14 are preferably provided with tongues and grooves to engage small beads in the marginal strips so as to more securely hold the marginal strips and prevent them from running off the disks. Shaft 10 is provided with a gear 17 which meshes with gears 18 and 19 on shafts 13 and 16 respectively so that all three shafts rotate together, power being applied in any suitable manner preferably to shaft 10.

Shafts 10 and 16 are preferably supported by boxes such as 20 and 21, which are vertically adjustable in the housing by means of the bolts 22 and 23, the boxes being guided by plates such as 2 1 suitably secured to the housing. The shaft 13 is similarly mounted in boxes 25 but horizontally adjustable by means of bolts 26.

The expanding disks or rings 27-27 are mounted so as to rotate on hearing plates or disks 28 which are supported by brackets 29 and 30. The brackets 29 are carried by shaft 31 and the brackets 30 are carried by shaft 32. The shaft 31 is supported in boxes 33 which are horizontally adjustable by bolts 34 and 35 and vertically adjustable by bolts 36 and 37. The shaft 32 is carried by brackets 38 which are. secured to the housings by bolts 39 which enable the brackets to be clamped direct to the housings or to be adthe disks v42.

justed horizontally by inserting packing plates or shims between the brackets and the housings. These brackets are vertically adjustable by bolts such as 40-41. This method of supporting the expanding disks or rings makes it possible to increase or decrease the expansion by lowering or raising the expanding disk relative to the feed disk. By horizontally adjusting the expanding disk the point of maximum expansion which is directly below the center of the expanding disk may be moved closer to or farther away from the vertical plane containing the shafts of the upper and lower feed disks and the line of contact where the marginal and interior unslitted strips are held.

Feed disks 42-42 coacting with the expanding disks 27 27 are carried by a shaft- 43 which has bearing boxes 44 horizontally adjustable by bolts 45. These boxes are guided by plates such as 46 and 47, the latter of which also guides the bearing box 25 of the shaft 13. These disks 42 are driven from the shaft 16 by means of the sprocket 48, chain 49 and sprocket 50 so as to give attractive force to the interribs by gripping the interribs between the disks 42 and 27 and by the friction of the expanding disks which are thus driven from By providing the disks 27 and 42 with teeth such as 51 and 52 (see Fig. 4) it is possible to crimp the interribs or corrugate them transversely as at 53 so as to foreshorten the interribs somewhat before the expansion takes place and eliminate any tendency to buckle the interribs or distort the fabric.

Claims 1. In an expanding machine, sets of up per and lower feed disks arranged in pairs spaced apart from each other and other feed disks coacting with one set of the first mentioned sets of pairs for feeding marginal and interior unslitted strips of a partially slitted sheet, the marginal feed disks being provided with tongue and grooved portions, rotating expanding members between adjacent disks of one of the first mentioned sets of disks and provided with transverse teeth and toothed disks coacting with the expanding members for crimping the interribs of the sheet.

2. In an expanding machine, sets of upper and lower feed disks arranged in pairs spaced apart from each other and other feed disks coacting with one set of the first mentioned sets of pairs for feeding marinal and interior unslitted strips of a partially slitted sheet, the marginal feed disks being provided with tongue and grooved portions. rotating expanding members between adjacent disks of one of the first mentioned sets of disks and provided with transverse teeth and toothed disks coacting with the expanding members for crimping the interribs of the sheet, the axis of said expanding members being beyond the plane of the axes of the first two mentioned sets of disks whereby the complete expansion is allowed to take place on lines inclined for wardly in the direction of feed.

3. In an expanding machine, sets of upper and lower feed disks arranged in pairs spaced apart from each other and other feed disks coacting with one set of the first mentioned sets of pairs for feeding marginal and interior unslitted strips of a partially slitted sheet, the marginal feed disks :being provided with tongue and grooved portions, rotating expanding members between adjacent disks of one of the first mentioned sets of disks and provided with transverse teeth and toothed disks coacting with the expanding members for crimping the interribs of the sheet, the axis of said expanding members being beyond the plane of the axes of the first two mentioned sets of disks whereby the complete expansion is allowed to take place on lines inclined forwardly in the direction of feed, the radius of the expanding members being greater than the radius of the disks of the set whose axis is nearest to the axis of the expanding members.

4. In an expanding machine, sets of upper and lower feed disks arranged in pairs spaced apart from each other and other feed disks coacting with one set of the first mentioned sets of pairs for feeding marginal and interior unslitted strips of a par tially slitted sheet, the marginal feed disks being provided with tongue and grooved portions, rotating expanding members between adjacent disks of one of the first mentioned sets of disks and provided with transverse teeth and toothed disks coacting with the expanding members for crimping the interribs of the sheet, the radius of the expanding members being greater than the radius of the disks of the set whose axis is nearest to the axis of the expanding members.

5. In an expanding machine, a series of feed disks spaced apart on a common axis, two series of feed disks coacting with said first mentioned disks for successively engaging unslitted strips as they pass partially around the disks of the first series, a series of rotary expanding members between the disks of the first mentioned series of disks and the disks of the third series of disks and feed disks coacting with said rotary expanding members between the disks of the second and third series of disks.

6. In an expanding machine, a series of feed disks spaced apart on a common axis, two series of feed disks coacting with said first mentioned disks for successively engaging unslitted strips as they pass partially around the disks of the first series, a

series of rotary expanding members between the disks of the first mentioned series of disks and the disks of the third series of disks and feed disks coacting with said rotary expanding members between the disks of the second and third series of disks, the radius of the rotary expanding members being greater than the radius of the disks of the first mentioned series of feed disks.

7. In an expanding machine, a series of feed disks spaced apart on a common axis, two series of feed disks coacting with said first mentioned disks for successively engaging unslitted strips as they pass partially around the disks of the first series, a series of rotary expanding members between the disks of the first'mentioned series of disks and the disks of the third series of disks and feed disks coacting with said rotary expanding members between the disks of the second and third series of disks, the axis of said rotary expanding members being beyond the plane of the axes of the disks of the first and third series of feed disks whereby the expansion takes place along lines inclined forwardly in the direction of feed.

8. In an expanding machine, a series of feed disks spaced apart on a common axis, two series of feed disks coacting with said first mentioned disks for successively engaging unslitted strips as they pass pare tially around the disks of the first series, a series of rotary expanding members between the disks of the first mentioned series of disks and the disks of the third series of disks and feed disks coacting with said rotary expanding members between the disks of the second and third series of disks, and means for vertically adjusting the disks of the first and third series of feed disks, means for horizontally adjusting the other feed disks, said rotary expanding members being horizontally and vertically adjustable.

9. In an expanding machine, a series of feed disks spaced apart on a common axis, two series of feed disks coacting with said first mentioned disks for successively engaging unslitted strips as they pass partially around the disks of the first series, a series of rotary expanding members between the disks of the first mentioned series of disks and the disks of the third series of disks, and feed disks coacting with said rotary expanding members between the disks of the second and third series of disks, the rotary expanding members and the coacting disks having teeth for crimping the interribs of the sheet while the expansion of the meshwork is taking place.

10. In an expanding machine, two coacting sets of spaced rotary feed disks on parallel axes, means for feeding unslitted strips of a partially slitted sheet around the curved guiding faces of the disks of one set of feed disks, a rotating expanding disk between adjacent pairs of feed disks, said expanding disk being of larger diameter than the disks around which the unslitted strips are guided and the axis being in a plane beyond the plane of the axes of the feed disks, and means for driving said expanding disk.

11. In an expanding machine, two coacting sets of spaced rotary feed disks on parallel axes, means for feeding unslitted strips of a partially slitted sheet around the curved guiding faces of the disks of one set of feed disks, a rotating expanding disk between adjacent pairs of feed disks, said expanding disk being of larger diameter than the disks around which the unslitted strips are guided and the axis being in a plane beyond the plane of the axes of the feed disks, means for driving said expanding disk, and means for transversely crimping the interrib of the sheet while the meshwork is being formed.

12. In an expanding machine, two coacting sets of spaced rotary feed disks on parallel axes, means for feeding unslitted strips of a partially slitted sheet around the curved guiding faces of the disks of one set of feed disks, a rotating expanding disk between adjacent pairs of feed disks, said expanding disk being of larger diameter than the disks around which the unslitted strips are guided and the axis being in a plane beyond the plane of the axes of the feed disks, means for driving said expanding disk, and means for adjusting the expanding disk vertically and horizontally.

13. In an expanding machine, two coacting sets of spaced rotary feed disks on parallel axes, means for feeding unslitted strips of a partially slitted sheet around the curved guiding faces of the disks of one set, a ro tating expanding disk between adjacent pairs of feed disks and means for transversely crimping the interrib of the sheet While the meshwork is being formed.

14. In an expanding machine, two coacting sets of spaced rotary feed disks on parallel axes, means for feeding unslitted strips of a partially slitted sheet around the curved guiding faces of the disks of one set, a 1'0.- tating expanding disk between adjacent pairs of feed disks, means for transversely crimping the interrib of the sheet while the meshwork is being formed, and means for adjusting the expanding disk vertically and horizontally.

15. In an expanding machine, means for guiding marginal and interior unslitted strips of a partially slitted sheet in a curved plane, rotary expanding members alternating with said guiding means and having radii greater than the radius of the curved guiding means, and means for transversely crimping the interribs of the sheet while the expansion of the meshwork is taking place.

16. In an expanding machine, upper and lower sets of spaced feed disks for unslitted strips, an expanding ring located between laterally adjacent feed disks, the center of said ring being beyond the plane of the axes of said feed disks and means for driving said expanding ring.

17. In an expanding machine, upper and lower sets of spaced teed disks for unslitted strips, an expanding ring located between laterally adjacent teed disks, the center of said ring being beyond the plane of the axes of said feed disks, said expanding ring being of greater radius than the feed disks whose axis is nearest to it.

18. In an expanding machine, upper and lower sets of spaced feed disks for nnslitted strips of a partially slitted sheet, an expanding ring located between laterally adjacent teed disks, the center of said ring being beyond the plane of the axes of said feed disks, said expanding ring; being of greater radius than the feed disks whose axis is nearest to it, and means for crimping the interrib of the sheet before it reaches the plane of said axes.

19. In an expanding machine, uppe and lower sets of spaced l eed disks for unslitted strips of a partially slitted sheet, an expanding ring located between laterally adjacent feed disks, and means for crimping the interrib of the sheet before it reaches the plane of the axes of said feed disks.

20. In an expanding machine, upper and lower sets of spaced teed disks for unslitted strips of a partially slitted sheet, an expand ing ring located between laterally adjacent feed disks, and means for crimping the interrib of the sheet while expansion is taking place, said expanding ring being o1 greater radius than the feed disks.

21. in an expanding machine, upper and lower sets of spaced feed disks for unslitted strips of a partially slitted sheet, an expandine ring located between laterally adjacent iced disks, and means for crimping the interrib oi the sheet before it reaches the plane of the axes of said feed disks, said expanding ring being adjustable vertically and horizontally.

22. In an expanded metal machine, a set of vertically adjustable teed disks spaced apart on a common axis, a set of horizontally adjustable feed disks coacting therewith, a set of vertically adjustable feed disks coacting with said first set out disks and in line with the disks of the second set, and vertically and horizontally adjustable expanding members between the adjacent series of feed disks.

28. In an expanded metal machine, a set of vertically adjustable teed disks spaced apart on a common axis, a set of horizontally adjustable feed disks coasting therewith, a set of vertically adjustable feed disks coacting with said first set of disks and in line with the disks of the second set, .vertically and horizontally adjustable expanding members between the adjacent series of ed disks, and horizontally adjustable driving disks coasting with said expanding members.

25%. In an expanded metal machine, a set of feed disks spaced apart on a common axis, a set o'j teed disks coasting therewith, means for horizontally adjusting said second set of feed disks, a of "feed disks coacting with said i set of disks and in line with the disks the second set, means for vertically ad usting said third set of disks and vertically and horizontally adjustable expat 111 members between the adjacent series o feed disks.

25. lin an expanded metal machine, a set disks sp. part on a common axis, a et of :leed disks enacting therewith, means tor horizontally adjustin said second set of feed d'i: a of iced disks coacting with said first of disks and in *ie with the disks of the sec rd 'et, means vertically listing saic 1rd set oi disks, expanding members between the a aiiced disks and means for sting said expanding memcent series ol horizontally adj bei-s.

26. In an expanded metal macliine, a set of feed disks spaced 1 axis, et oi feed di,

feed disks coacting n. I said disks and in line with the disks oi second set, expandin members between art series of feed disks, means for adj nstinp; said expanding men and horizontally adjustable driving members coaflting with said expanding 1 )ers.

T l 1 a4. in an expanded metal machine, a set at leed disks spaced apart on a common axis, a set Of feed disks (reacting therewith and adjustable to and fro the same, a second of feed disks coac 1g with said lirs set of disks and in line with the disks 0 l the second set and adjustable to and from the first risks and adjustable expanding members between the adjacent series or": feed disks.

28. In an expanded metal machine, a set oi teed disks spaced apart on a common axis, a of feed disks coactine' therewith and adjustable to and from the sari-c ond set oi feed disks coactingwi set of disks and in line with the second set and adjustable to an first disks, adjustable expandiin between the adjacent series of feed and driving members expanding members.

99. ln an expanded .i etal machine, a set 1 feed disks spaced apart on a common xis, a set of horizontally adjustable teed F-iz s y, o J.

adjustable with said disks eoacting therewith, a set of Vertically adjustable feed disks eoacting with said first set of disks and in line with the disks of the second set, horizontally adjustable expanding members between the adjacent series of feed disks, and horizontally adjustable driving disks eoacting with said panding members.

30. In an expanded metal machine, a set of feed disks spaced apart on a common axis, a set or" feed disks eoacting therewith, means for adjusting said second set of feed disks toward the first set, a set of feed disks eoacting with said first set of disks and in line with the disks or" the second set, means for adjustin said third set of disks toward the first set, and expanding members adjustable in two directions between the adjacent series of feed disks.

31. In an expanded metal machine, a set of feed disks spaced apart on a common axis, a set of feed disks eoacting therewith, a set or" feed disks eoacting with said first set of disks and in line with the disks or" the second set, rotary expanding members between the adjacent series of feed disks and means for adjusting said expanding members in two directions independently at substantially right angles to each other.

32. In an expanded metal machine, a set of feed disks spa ed apart on a common axis, a set of feed disks eoacting therewith, a set of feed disks eoacting with said first set of disks and in line with the disks of the second set, expanding members between the adjacent series of feed disks, means for adjusting said expanding members and adjustable driving members eoacting with said expanding members.

33. In an expanded metal machine, a set of feed disks spaced apart on a common axis, a set of feed disks eoacting therewith and adjustable to and from the same, a second set of feed disks eoacting with said first set of disks and in line with the disks of the second set and adjustable to and from the first disks, adjustable expanding members between the adjacent series of feed disks and crimping means adjacent said expanding members.

as. In an expanded metal machine, a set of feed disks spaced apart on a common axis, a set of feed disks eoacting therewith, means for adjusting said second set of feed disks toward thefirst set, a set of feed disks to acting with said first set of disks and in line with the disks of thesecond set, means for adjusting said third set of disks toward the first set, expanding members adjustable in two directions between the adjacent series of feed disks and crimping means adjacent said expanding members.

35. In an expanded metal machine, a set of feed disks spaced apart on a common axis, a set of feed disks eoacting therewith, a set of feed disks eoacting with said first set of disks and in line with the disks of the second set, xpanding members between the adjacent series of feed disks, means for adjusting said expanding members and adjustable crimping members adjacent said expanding members.

36. In an expanded metal machine, a set of feed disks spaced apart on a common axis, set of feed disks eoacting therewith, a set 1 feed disks eoacting with said first set of disks and in line with the disks of the second set, rotary expanding members between the adjacent series of feed disks, crimping members adjacent said expanding members and means for adjusting said expanding members in two directions independently at substantially right angles to each other.

37. In combination a series of spaced main disks, two feed disks eoacting with each main disk, a rotary expanding member between each two adjacent main disks, crimping means adjacent each expanding member for crimping the interribs of a sheet while the slitted portions are being expanded.

38. In combination a series of spaced main disks, two feed disks eoacting with each main disk, a rotary expanding member between each two adjacent main disks, crimping means adjacent each expanding member for crimping the interribs of a sheet while the slitted portions are being expanded, and means for adjusting said crimping means.

39. in combination a series of spaced main disks, two feed disks eoacting with each main disk, a rotary expanding member between each two adjacent main disks, said expanding members being of larger radii than said main disks and arranged beyond the said disks so that the interribs of a par tially slitted sheet are carried around curves of larger radii than the marginal strips of the sheet and the maximum expansion occurs beyond the feed disks.

40. In combination a series of spaced main disks, two feed disks eoacting with each main disk, a rotary expanding member between each two adjacent main disks, each expanding member being of larger radius than said main disks and arranged beyond said main disks so that the interribs of a partially slitted sheet are carried around curves of larger radii than the marginal strips of the sheet, and so that the maximum expansion occurs beyond the feed disks and crimping means adjacent each expanding member for crimping the interrib while the slitted portions are being expanded.

41. In combination a series of spaced main disks, two feed disks eoacting with each main disk, a rotary expanding member between each two adjacent main disks, each expanding member being of larger radius than said main disks and arranged beyond said main disks so that the interribs of a partially slitted sheet are carried around curves of larger radii than the marginal strips of the sheet, and so that the maximum expansion occurs beyond the feed disks and crimping means adjacent each expanding member for crimping the interrib While the slitted portions are being expanded, and means for adjusting each expanding mem- 10 her up and down and forward and back with relation to said feed disks.

LIDA F. C. CLARK, E weeutrz'ze under the Zest will and testament of N orrz's E Zmare Clark, deceased. 

